Friday, July 8, 2022

Dear friend, 

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will host a joint Virtual Public Hearing this Tuesday, July 12, at 7 p.m. to discuss the proposed changes to the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station to accommodate the Frontier Drive Extension Project.


The project team will make a short presentation beginning at 7 p.m. and answer questions for about an hour after the presentation. You can register in advance on VDOT's Frontier Drive Public Hearing page here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3665533596452622861


The Virtual Public hearing will also be live-streamed on VDOT's Frontier Drive webpage:: https://www.virginiadot.org/projects/northern_virginia/frontier_drive_extension_and_braided_ramps-joint_virtual_location_design_public_hearing_and_nepa_public_hearing.asp


To call in without registering and participate in listen-only mode, call 1-877-568-4108 and enter access code 998-539-348. Public feedback will be provided to Metro's Board of Directors as part of the final decision-making process.


More details: https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Public-comment-frontier-drive-extension.cfm?fbclid=IwAR0QeZkWJDhdeGkps7xPRxKLl9dBJeP2CdKdGXp0eAPAiIyvSV60HCOBuvQ

Please contact my office if we can assist you:

Email: leedist@fairfaxcounty.gov (My team is working on an updated email)

Phone 703-971-6262

-Rodney
Table of Contents
  1. Supervisor Lusk in the News
  2. Supervisor Lusk in the Community
  3. Car Tax Bill Includes 15% Tax Relief
  4. Lee District Nights
  5. Trees at Risk: Here's How to Help
  6. Propose Land Use Changes at the Upcoming Hearing
  7. Prevention Initiatives Countering Fatal Overdoses
  8. FCPS Special Education Teacher Infomation Session
  9. COVID-19 Resources

Supervisor Lusk in the News

    ICYMI: So long, 'Lee District'; welcome aboard, 'Franconia District'

By Brian Trompeter of the Sun Gazette Newspapers

https://www.insidenova.com/news/fairfax/so-long-lee-district-welcome-aboard-franconia-district/article_c55c0a9e-fc54-11ec-8d56-9b26b96a9062.html



Supervisors unanimously approved Lusk’s motion to have County Executive Bryan Hill formally begin the process to change the district’s name from Lee to Franconia and report back to the board on any administrative changes necessary and possible financial impacts, plus a timeline for the renaming’s adoption.


Lusk attended three town-hall meetings that drew hundreds of residents and discussed the district’s history and etymology, what it meant to the public and possible alternative names. Each meeting kicked off with a presentation by a Virginia Room historian from Fairfax Library.


“It’s a name that makes sense, it’s a name that our community has embraced and it’s a name that memorializes a place and not a person,”

said Lusk (D-Franconia)



Fairfax Supervisors OK Economic-incentive fund

By Brian Trompeter of the Sun Gazette Newspapers

https://sungazette.news/fairfax-supervisors-ok-economic-incentive-fund/



Fairfax County supervisors on June 28 appropriated $1 million to establish the Fairfax Founders Fund, a grant and technical-assistance program that will bolster promising startup companies in the county that are focused on emerging technological industries.


The moneys, which will come from the county’s Economic Opportunity Reserve Fund, will address under-capitalization of innovative businesses in the early stages of development and link those companies with technical assistance and other area partnerships.


Grant recipients will be eligible for up to $50,000 in funding, but must provide a 50-percent match in the form of capital or sweat equity. The county expects to roll out the program this fall.


The grant program also will foster economic development and job growth, and promote the county’s economic advantages, boosters said. The program also will “marketed broadly so as to ensure its availability to a diverse population of founders,” they said.


“Female and minority businesses have historically had less access to capital and diverse founders have traditionally been underrepresented in equity funding,” supervisors said in a July 2021 board matter.

Supervisor Lusk in the Community 



Thank you to the Natyabhoomi School of Dance (Indian Dance & Music) for their performance during the Franconia (Lee) District Nights at Lee District Park. 

Thank you to Capital Area Food Bank for kicking off their Summer Meals Food Program In Audubon Estates! The DC Divas came to help! Having fun and offering healthy meals! 

Car Tax Bills Includes 15% Tax Relief

Car tax bills will arrive in the mail soon — but did you know your bill includes 15% tax relief approved by the Board of Supervisors?


This relief was automatically applied to your tax amount, so you won’t see the reduction listed. Fairfax County’s tax relief is on top of the state’s usual relief that is listed separately on your bill.


Learn more: http://ow.ly/hiAP50JOInT

Franconia (Former Lee) District Nights:

Family Friendly Concerts

Lee District Nights are a summer entertainment series consisting of free public concerts that offer a wide array of music ranging from jazz to rock 'n' roll to bring the community together. Simply bring some company, a picnic dinner, a blanket and enjoy the company of the people around you on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m up until Wednesday, August 24th.


For volunteering opportunities call: 703-971-6262


More details: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances

Trees at Risk: Here's how to Help

Northern Virginia’s oldest and best-loved trees are in danger, and the threat is in plain sight. Non-native, invasive vines are wrapped around the trees' trunks which in turn directly threaten the lives of the trees. It is estimated that as many as three million trees in region are at risk. 


But there is a group trying to help. More than 130 people from neighborhoods across Northern Virginia have already volunteered with Tree Rescuers, a new campaign sponsored by Plant NOVA Trees, to preserve our area’s mature trees. 


The Tree Rescuers don’t remove any vines themselves, but they warn landowners by dropping off a brochure explaining the problem and ways to fix it. 


For more information please  visit: https://www.plantnovatrees.org/post/millions-of-trees-at-risk-in-northern-virginia-introducing-tree-rescuers

Propose Site Specific Land Use Changes at the Upcoming Public Hearing

A public hearing for recommendations to the Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process is scheduled for Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. in the Fairfax County Government Center.


The SSPA process allows anyone to propose site-specific land use changes to the Comprehensive Plan, the county’s guiding document for land use and development decisions. An evaluation of the SSPA process took place from Fall 2021 to Spring 2022, and the recommended changes were published in a detailed report in May. Learn how to view the public hearing and submit public hearing testimony: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/boardofsupervisors/about-board-meetings.


View the full list of recommended changes and learn more about the process at: SSPA website

Prevention Initiatives Countering the Rise of Fatal Overdoses in Fairfax

Overdoses continue to increase in Fairfax County in line with state and national trends. A growing area of concern here in Fairfax County and around the country is fatal and nonfatal overdoses involving youth. Most fatal overdoses in Fairfax involve fentanyl, a powerful opioid. In many cases, people don’t even realize they’re taking it. 


Here are a few ways you can spread the word.


  • Fairfax County’s Opioid Communications Toolkit has a wide array images, videos, posters to share and they’re easy to copy and paste. Please share them widely.





To get involved: Join the Fairfax Prevention Coalition by emailing FairfaxPreventionCoalition@gmail.com or Lori.Naveda@fairfaxcounty.gov

FCPS Special Education Teacher Information Session

Fairfax County Public Schools is one of the largest school divisions in the U.S. with 199 schools and centers. They serve a diverse student population of more than 183,000 students in grades prekindergarten through 12, speaking over 200 languages. 


The school system is divided into five regions, each comprising four or five high school pyramids and their feeder middle and elementary schools. With being said, if you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Special Education teacher, register for the Virtual Information Session taking place on Wednesday, July 13th from 5-6 p.m. 


Register here: https://app.brazenconnect.com/a/FCPS/e/Bbd65?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=recruit

Fairfax County COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19:
Contact our Health Department COVID-19 Call Center during business hours Monday-Friday at 703-267-3511.

Text FFXCOVID to 888777 to receive updates from Fairfax County about COVID-19; text FFXCOVIDESP to 888777 for updates in Spanish.

Email questions or concerns to ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov. This email account will be staffed Monday through Friday, 8 am-4:30 pm.


Follow @fairfaxcounty and @fairfaxhealth on Twitter.

For regular updates, continue to follow the following trusted sources:

Rodney L. Lusk

Franconia District Supervisor

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